Bike Build Tips from Rollies
Bike Build Tips from Rollies Speed Shop
The best thing about motorcycles is the huge range of options available for you to personalise it to suit you.
You can change out almost every part of it to look, feel and ride the way you want. The biggest problem is overwhelm from the numerous options, plus the unsolicited advice from every person you meet. Everyone thinks they have the best parts on their bike and maybe they do… for them; but it’s your bike that you’re building for YOU, not for them.
The following Bike Build Tips are meant as a guide to help you plan your build. It’s not going to tell you exactly what you need, it’s here to steer you in the right direction (planning & research) to save you time and money.
Why should you listen to our advice?
The short answer is… We’ve been around for a long time and we know what works.
The longer answer is… Rollies Speed Shop has been modifying V-Twin motorcycles since 1979, that’s a lot of experience. We’ve also worked with numerous other builders both Nationally and Internationally to problem solve and fine tune builds. As the largest distributer in Australia of performance parts from top USA Brands, we have a long history of staying at the cutting edge of new developments.
Our goal is to help you build your dream bike. A bike that matches your riding style and personality.
These Bike Build Tips are written to help you design the right build for YOU…
What We’ll Cover in Rollies Tips…
- Have An End Goal
- Find The Right Parts Quickly
- Balance Engine Power With Braking Power
- Staging Your Build
Bike Build by Westside Customs
Bike Build Tip #1 – Have An End Goal
It seems obvious, you should start with the end goal in mind.
You don’t have to lock yourself in 100%, but the clearer your vision, the easier the build.
Q. Are you more focused on Power Gains or the Look of your bike?
MORE POWER: If it’s Power you’re chasing then you need to decide if your personal riding style is about top end speed (HP) or low end acceleration (Torque). The last thing you want to do is spend a bunch of money for Power that sit’s outside of the rev range where you tend to ride.
Don’t just select a new Camshaft based on what your friend got, or what you think is the fastest Cam available.
If you have an M8, then try out our online M8 Cam Selector Tool. This is a great way to quickly find the Cam and other performance parts that will fit your engine.
THE LOOK: If it’s the look that’s most important right now, then you need to find the parts you’re looking for and check that they fit your bike and work together before diving right in and ordering everything. For this, we suggest you do some research to find the parts you like, then call us on 07-3252-5381 to double check everything will fit and work in combination with the other new parts on your bike.
Note: If you’re calling us to check if parts fit then they need to be parts we actually supply, not some random brand/part you found that we don’t know about. We love talking about builds but we’re not here to problem solve dodgy imports & 2nd hand eBay parts.
Bike Build by Rollies Workshop
Bike Build Tip #2 – Find The Right Parts Quickly
Rollies Speed Shop stocks performance parts & accessories from 100+ USA Brands. With more than 10,000 parts available online it’s the best way to find everything from one place. It can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
==> Search on Rollies Website…
The search function on our website is fast and accurate.
Try typing in the part you want and the model of your bike; eg. “Air Cleaner Softail” or “Saddlemen Touring”. This will show you everything available across all brands at Rollies.
You can further refine your search by selecting the Brands you like from the left side menu. Plus you can tick the “In Stock Only” option to remove Backorder parts.
This simple online search tip can save you a heap of time by narrowing down on the new parts that will fit your model.
Note: If you want to make more complex modifications then you can always call us to confirm that the parts you like can be fitted to your model.
Bike Build Tip #3 – Balance Engine Power With Braking Power
Most of us want “More Power!” and Rollies Speed Shop has everything you need to boost the HP & Torque of your engine. We really love unlocking as much power as possible out of engines but we also insist on matching your braking power with your engine power.
Allow some of your budget to go into upgrading your brakes.
Upgrading your brake pads, callipers and/or brake disc rotors is essential for your safety. You’re sitting on 300kg of metal, the last thing you want when something jumps out in front of you is underpowered brakes.
Bike Build Tip #4 – Staging Your Build (Pros, Cons & A Plan)
Most bikes are a work in progress… It’s rare for someone to say “It’s complete, there’s nothing more I need to do to this”.
It’s human nature to want more than you can afford. I think this is why people that can afford to buy anything they want on Earth start building rocket ships and virtual worlds. For the non-Billionaires there’s Staging…
The Pros of Staging:
- You can start modifying your bike before you have all the funds you need to complete it.
- You can adapt your riding style as your bike gradually transforms.
- You can adjust your design as you build.
- You get to ride it between stages.
The Cons of Staging:
- It’s in and out and in and out of the workshop.
- Paying repeat workshop fees for engine work rather than getting it all done at the same time.
- Deciding which upgrade is most important
- Retuning after each Engine modification
Bike Build by Elite Bikes
Rollies Tips for Staging:
- Try to do as much as possible at once, when you’re modifying your engine (this will save you money on pushrods, gaskets, mechanic fees, etc that add up over multiple stages of engine component changes)
- Boost your stopping power before or at the same time as engine power upgrades.
- Be sure to reward yourself with comfort upgrades… A better seat, grips and suspension make long rides a lot more enjoyable.
- Don’t leave your receipts laying around. What you spend on your bike is your business and nobody else’s.
For help pricing up your Bike Build you can Request A Quote online from Rollies. We’ll check that all the parts you’ve selected will fit your model and let you know if there are any other additional parts required for proper fitment.
Bike Build Tip #5 – Get Good Advice (Be Selective)
Be wary of who you take advice from… Opinions are like arseholes, everybody has one.
Unless you have an identical twin that’s already built your dream bike then it pays to be selective about who’s advice you take.
As I mentioned at the start, Rollies Speed Shop has been modifying bikes since 1979. We have a ton of experience and knowledge. We also have contacts around Australia and Internationally that have built almost any kind of bike you can imagine.
Bike Build by Coops Custom Cycles
You’re welcome to call us for advice on your bike build, whether it’s a small modification or a full build, we can help steer you in the right direction. Even if you’re building a special one-of-a-kind Beast, we can help connect you with someone that has already been down that path and knows which pitfalls to avoid.
Summary: Have an end goal in mind, do some searching on our website for parts/ideas and then contact us on 07-3252-5381 for a chat about how to build your bike while getting the best value for your money.
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